Guwahati: The family of Lunminthang Sitlhou, alias Jack, one of the two persons arrested by a joint team of NIA, CRPF and Manipur Police on Saturday on charges of killing six Naga civilians in Manipur, has claimed he is innocent.The family issued a public clarification on Sunday condemning what they described as an unexpected arrest and said Lunminthang had no involvement in the killings. Police, however, have said the two were arrested following a sustained investigation into the abduction and killing of the six Nagas.“I declare with the utmost certainty and responsibility as a father that my son is completely innocent. He is not involved with any militant organisation, faction, or illegal underground activity whatsoever,” Lunminthang’s father, Paolen Sitlhou, said in a statement.“Every single one of his daily activities has been well known to and acknowledged by the family. He has never engaged in any illegal, anti-national, or suspicious behaviour,” he said.Paolen said their family belongs to the Thadou community and their lives are guided by the faith, principles, and peace-loving teachings of the Thadou Baptist Association church.“On Saturday, my son was law-abidingly complying with the authorities. He was summoned to the Leimakhong Police Station simply to cooperate and give a routine statement to the police department in relation to the recent area community crisis. However, while at the station, he was unexpectedly arrested and subsequently taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) ,” Paolen said.The family has urged the authorities for his immediate, unconditional release on humanitarian grounds.The second person arrested on Saturday was identified as Lungoulal Vaiphei, son of Paothenkam Vaiphei, a resident of Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district.Saturday’s arrests came eight days after a joint team of Manipur Police, NIA and CRPF arrested a husband and wife for their alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of the six Naga villagers. The victims were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei, a Kuki-inhabited village in Kangpokpi district, and their mutilated, dismembered bodies were recovered on June 10, nearly a month later.The bodies continue to remain at the JNIMS mortuary in Imphal, as the families have refused to accept them until justice is served.
